Massachusetts redefines "sale" regulations

Retailers are now allowed to sell merchandise - from furniture and kitchen appliances to shampoo - at so-called sale prices up to 69 percent of the year, meaning they can be offered at the regular price just 31 percent of the time. The change is significant because for nearly two decades, state regulations have prevented retailers from designating a product as being “on sale’’ unless it was offered at a higher price at least 55 percent of the time.